Employment tribunal time limits have doubled. From 1 October 2026, staff have six months to bring a claim to an employment tribunal, up from three. If you employ people, or you are buying a business that does, a complaint can now surface for longer after the event.
The change comes from the government's new employment rights rules. It is the first of several this autumn.
01Employment tribunal time limits: what changed on 1 October
According to the government's guidance for businesses, the time limit for bringing a claim to an employment tribunal rises from three months to six.
So what does that mean for a small employer? A dispute you thought was over may stay open for longer. So keep dated notes of how you handled it.
Now is a sensible time to check three things with an HR adviser:
- Every member of staff has up-to-date written terms of employment.
- You have a written grievance and disciplinary process, and you follow it.
- Notes of any dispute, meeting or warning are dated and kept.
02What comes next
More changes follow. The government says these dates may still change as the rules pass through Parliament.
- 30 October 2026: Employers must take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their staff. They must also not permit harassment by third parties, such as customers. Independent trade unions gain a new right of access to workplaces.
- 1 January 2027: Unfair dismissal protections change. The qualifying period gets shorter and the cap on the compensatory award is removed.
Some changes are already in force. Since April 2026, more staff qualify for Statutory Sick Pay, with no earnings threshold and no three-day wait.
03If you are buying a business with staff
When you buy a business with employees, the staff usually come with it. Our guide to what TUPE means when you buy a business with staff explains how.
The longer time limit means you should look further back. Ask the seller about any complaints, grievances or disputes in the last six months, not just the last three.
Then ask your solicitor whether the sale agreement should cover them, through warranties or an indemnity. Our guide to due diligence when buying a business covers the other checks a lender will expect.
A lender is likely to ask about any open claim before it lends. If you are arranging acquisition finance, raise it early rather than at completion.
